Does a Michigan law that makes civilian possession of a stun gun illegal violate the Second Amendment constitutional right to “keep and bear arms?”

Stay tuned: Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran is crafting a ruling to that very question.

For us, the question of Michigan laws outlawing or restricting usually-less-than-lethal weapons is less thorny.

In a state where any sane, non-felon adult may apply and most likely receive a permit to legally carry a concealed — and absolutely deadly — handgun, the laws against non-lethal weapons are ridiculous.

Yet, Dean S. Yanna, 41, is charged with a felony punishable by up to four years in prison for wearing a stun gun on his belt while working as a clerk at Old Town Party Store, 204 S. Henry in Bay City. Police arrested him on June 5 after receiving a tip that he possessed the device.

Underlining the ludicrous nature of his legal predicament is that the person working with Yanna that day was wearing a handgun on his hip. Police did not arrest the man carrying the firearm.

In Michigan, in addition to concealed weapons permits, it is perfectly legal to carry a pistol in public if it is in plain view — John Wayne style.

The shocker is that less-lethal weapons for personal protection aren’t allowed. A stun gun is an electric shocking device similar to a cattle prod. It must be touched to a person before it can jolt them with electricity. A stun gun is not a Taser, which fires two prongs that deliver a shock from a distance.

In 2002, Michigan lawmakers allowed police to carry Tasers.

Police also are allowed to carry the most powerful chemical sprays, which Michigan also legislates out of reach of the general public for protection against other people. State law allows civilians to carry small canisters with pepper sprays weaker than some sprays for defense against animal attacks. Michigan legislators late last year did, however, pass a law raising the pepper spray concentration allowed from 2 percent to a more potent 10 percent.

It just doesn’t make sense that Michiganders can, by jumping though the right hoops and paying all the fees, legally carry firearms hidden under their jackets or in purses, but that a store clerk — or anyone, for that matter — faces prison for carrying a less-lethal form of personal protection.

For his part, Yanna claims he didn’t know his little belt-mounted shocker was illegal. He says his father, who lives in Texas, gave it to him several years ago.

Likewise, people from most other states might not know that Michigan is a land where the public is allowed only diluted pepper spray and deadly weapons for self-protection. The majority of states allow full-strength pepper spray for public use, and only six other states prohibit civilians from carrying stun guns or Tasers.

Is Yanna’s case a matter of defining such devices as “arms,” and therefore protected under the Second Amendment? It’s what his attorney, Kenneth W. Malkin argues, and which Judge Sheeran may decide.

Whatever his ruling, it could be years before the case is eventually decided if it enters the appeals process.

Why wait that long?

Michigan legislators should simply decide that Michiganders deserve to protect themselves with the same weapons that other states allow, with much less worry that they may kill someone in the process.

Some folks just don’t want homicide, however justifiable, on their conscience for the rest of their lives because they defended themselves against an attack.